Abstract
For long time the strategic alignment of information systems (IS) has been one of the most important issues that IS and business managers face and at the same time a major research topic in the IS domain. In this paper is presented an empirical study of the business value of IS strategic alignment, which examines IS strategic alignment both at the strategy formulation and implementation level; also, we investigate the effect of adopting an innovation strategy on IS strategic alignment. The study is based on firm-level data from Greek companies, which are used for estimating econometric models of firm output based on the Cobb-Douglas production function. It is concluded that IS strategic alignment both at the strategy formulation and implementation level generates significant business value, increasing considerably the contribution of ICT investment to firm output. Also, the adoption of an innovation strategy has a positive effect on the strategic alignment of IS both at the strategy formulation and implementation level, as it puts pressure on firms to direct their IS investment towards the support of their new innovative products/services, and also to increase the involvement of organizational units responsible for these innovations in the projects implementing the required IS and applications.

Abstract
This paper presents the results of the first empirical investigation of the effect of information and communication technologies (ICT) investment on business performance in Greece. It investigates the effect of both ‘hard’ ICT investment (in ICT hardware, software and networks) and ‘soft’ ICT investment (in ICT human resources, skills and organization) on firm output. It is based on data from big Greek industrial firms, which have been collected via a questionnaire-based survey conducted in cooperation with the Federation of Greek Industries (FGI). Using these data, econometric models of output have been constructed based on the microeconomic production theory. Our analysis shows that the Cobb–Douglas production function can adequately describe the output, as compared to the more general transcendental production function. Using this type of production function it has been found that hard ICT investment in Greece makes a positive and statistically significant contribution to firm output; however its output elasticity is lower than the one of the non-computer capital and much lower than the one of the labour. Also, from the dimensions-measures of the soft ICT investment we examined, it has been found that the existence of a separate ICT department has a positive and statistically significant effect on firm output, which is of considerable magnitude of about two thirds of the effect of the hard ICT investment. The possibility of an effect of firm size on the structural stability of the econometric models we employed was also investigated; it was found that for firms with total sales above about €20 million the structure of the models is reasonably stable, and therefore the conclusions drawn from them are valid, at least for the range of firm sizes that our data cover.

Abstract
Firms all over the world make significant investments in information and communication technologies (ICT) aiming to increase their efficiency and effectiveness. It is of critical importance to investigate the impact of these investments on firms’ performance in various contexts, and also identify ‘soft factors’ that can increase this impact. This paper presents the results of an empirical investigation of the effect of ICT investments on Greek firms’ business performance, measured through value added and labor productivity. It also examines for first time in Greece whether and to what extent this effect can be increased if ICT investments are aligned with business strategy. The study is based on a unique research dataset, including data from 237 Greek firms about business performance, usage of ICT, adoption of modern organization forms and innovation, which has been collected through a questionnaire-based survey among Greek firms conducted in cooperation with ICAP, one of the largest business information and consulting companies of Greece. Using these data econometric models of output and labor productivity have been estimated based on the Cobb-Douglas production function. It has been concluded that ICT investments in Greece make a positive and statistically significant contribution to both firm output and labor productivity, so there is no ‘ICT Productivity Paradox’ in Greece. Additionally, it has been found that this contribution can be increased considerably, in the firms for which a very high degree of bilateral relationship between the ICT Plan and the Overall Business/Strategy Plan exists.

Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the effect of two external factors – the “generalized” competition an organization faces, and the strategy it follows in response to its external environment – on the business value generated by its ICT investment. Design/methodology/approach – For achieving these research objectives econometric models of output are constructed, using firm-level data from Greek companies, which have been collected through a survey through a structured questionnaire. These econometric models are based on the microeconomic production theory (Cobb Douglas production function). For operationalizing the “generalized competition” an organization faces are used the five dimensions of the generalized competition of M. Porter’s “five forces framework”. Findings – Concerning the above generalized competition dimensions it is concluded that higher level of bargaining power of suppliers results in higher ICT business value generation. Also, concerning strategy it is concluded that in organizations following a strategy of frequent introduction of new innovative products and services is generated higher ICT business value. Originality/value – This paper investigates the effect of external environment related factors on the business value generated by ICT investment. The conclusions constitute of first evidence that there are external conditions that result in higher business value from ICT investment by necessitating a more efficient and effective use of ICT.

Abstract
In this paper is presented an empirical study of the effect of two external environment factors: i) the ‘generalized’ competition the organization faces, which, according to M. Porter’s ‘Five Forces Model’ of competition, consists of the bargaining power of its suppliers, the bargaining power of its buyers, the competitive rivalry from its competitors, the threat of new entrants and the threat of substitute products or services, and ii) the strategy the organization follows for responding to pressures of its external environment, on the business value generated by ICT investment. The study is based on firm-level data from Greek companies, which have been collected through a survey using a structured questionnaire in cooperation with ICAP, one of the largest business information and consulting companies of Greece. Using these data are constructed econometric models of output, based on the microeconomic production theory, and in particular on the Cobb Douglas production function. From these models concerning the above generalized competition dimensions it is concluded that higher level of bargaining power of suppliers results in higher ICT business value. Also concerning strategy it is concluded that organizations following a strategy of frequent introduction of new innovative products and services enjoy higher ICT business value.

Abstract
The educational collaborative virtual distance learning environment is supposed to promote the active participation of teachers and students, interacting one another, exchanging knowledge and creating new abilities. Consequently, the learning process is anticipated to be promoted on both sides, by exchanging experiences, discussing new ideas and accomplishment of group, thus allowing the creation of knowledge, based on the collective involvement. On the other hand, in the context of eLearning, many standard software platforms, so called portal servers, have appeared on the market integrating various and often advanced synchronous and asynchronous collaborative tools and features. In this paper, we conduct a preliminary analysis measuring the Hellenic Open University’s (HOU) students’ perceptions toward the educational portal’s learning tools focusing mainly on collaborative activities. We make an attempt to identify whether the learners are using the portal, the tools it provides and to what degree. The study takes into account a plethora of variables to estimate whether these variables and at what degree are affecting significantly portal usability. Apart from normal descriptive analysis, we furnish two different linear regression models illustrating the various cross-dependencies among different dependent and independent variables and conducting two disparate Analyses of Variance (one-way ANOVA).

Abstract
The impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) investment on business performance has been a major research subject for long time. Until the mid 1990s there was little empirical evidence of a positive and statistically significant relation between ICT investment and business performance (ICT Productivity Paradox). Subsequent research, conducted mainly in a few highly developed countries, provided some empirical evidence of a statistically significant positive contribution of ICT investment to some measures of business performance, which increases if ICT investment is complemented by ’co-investments’ that create some complementary ‘intangible assets’, such as new work practices, business processes, organizational structures and skills. In this paper is presented the first study of the impact of information systems (IS) investments on business performance in Greece, based on firm-level data collected through a questionnaire-based survey in cooperation with the Federation of Greek Industries. In this study we also examine whether there is complementarity between IS investment and a set of IS management factors. It is concluded that in Greece IS spending by firms as a percentage of their sales revenue is lower than in the highly developed countries. Also, using econometric models based on the Cobb Douglas production function, we conclude that IS investments in Greece make a positive and statistically significant contribution to firm output and labour productivity, but not to the return on assets. Moreover it was found that the average marginal productivities of ICT capital and ICT labour expenses in Greece are higher than in the highly developed countries; also they are much higher than the average marginal productivities of the non-ICT capital and the non-ICT labour expenses respectively. Finally it was found that there is complementarity between IS investment and the examined set of IS management factors with respect to firm output and labour productivity; therefore the combination of IS investment with these IS management factors results in additional increase of firm output and labour productivity beyond the individual effect of IS investment.

Abstract
Motivating by the fact that public key cryptography is continuously evolving and its installed base is growing singniffically, very recent research works examine the potential use of it in eLearning or mLearning services. Attribute or temporary Certificates (ACs) seconded by Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) can provide the appropriate framework to secure distributed interactive eLearning applications, offering mutual “trust” to both learners and service providers. Considering PKI requirements for eLearning networks, the paper discusses the potential application of ACs in a proposed trust model. In the concept of that model, typical eLearning trusts interactions between eLearners and providers are presented, which demonstrate that robust security mechanisms and effective trust control can be obtained and implemented. The application of ACs to support mLearning are also presented and evaluated through an experimental test bed setup.